JCP
06-16-2005, 09:33 PM
World War II veterans, Tony Paino, Tom Tansey, and Clyde Joscelyn were the main attractions at the Oxford Historical Society Museum on Tuesday, June 7th. People of all ages filled the Depot Museum to hear the stories from these modest Oxford residents. They were just high school aged boys when they left their homes in Oxford and joined the war effort. Suddenly, they were men. Taking turns, they enthralled the crowd with a clear vision of their war experiences.
Paino was trained as a radio man in the 17th Cavalry, and was sent to Europe on the Queen Mary, 16 men to a room; double the capacity. He served in France, Holland, and Luxembourg. Finally in 1944, they drove into Hamm, Germany, where there was heavy fire. That’s when Paino was shot, injuring his lung, liver and diaphragm. The first medic, in haste to leave, left him for dead. Luckily a second medic arrived and helped. Tony was shipped to England to receive medical care, and then safely home.
Tansey wanted to join the Navy along with many of his Oxford class mates. In February, 1943, months before high school graduation, Tom’s parents signed an age waiver, and he was sworn in. He went to boot camp in Sampson, NY, where he did a lot of marching. (He thought that only the Army did that.) After about 2 months of training, he went to Newport, RI, and became a gunner’s mate. He said that he saw lots of U-boats in the Atlantic up North; he was hoping to see some action too. Tansey went to PA, then LA, but his final destination was on a patrol ship in Florida. They scouted the waters from Key West to the Panama Canal. The crew of about 20 men became close pals. They had ammunition on board, 20 mm’s, depth charges, 4 ‘K’ guns, and more, but they never had to use it. Eventually they went to Newport, and then into dry dock. The war had come to an end. The crew had performed a valuable service, but never saw each other again. Reflecting now, Tom is thankful that he did not see action, but he wished he could see his buddies again.
Clyde Joscelyn received what he called the “Greetings” letter-- he was drafted. He went from England to France where he was the assistant driver and bow gunner in an army tank. He did see action, and it was gruesome, but Clyde never lost his wonderful sense of humor. He recalled a time when the tank gunner was turning the turret to check it, only to find men with white flags surrendering! Later, his tank was hit. He saw a red flash, and then felt blood sloshing in his shoes. His feet were hit from an explosion under the tank. Leaving the tank, Joscelyn had to run ¼ mile on his injured feet, to the nearest French village for medics. Three days later he was flown on a C-47 transport plane to England for medical care. His next trip was to the States on the USS Wakefield. At Fort Dix they removed “the steel” (shrapnel), leaving behind one piece in his toe. He was given a two-week “R&R” pass and got to see Times Square, NYC; it was VE-Day!!! Clyde saw the ticker tape, piano rolls, and everything flying in the air in the biggest celebration ever! The war was over!
Later, Clyde was part of an Army Ground Forces’ show called “Here’s Your Infantry”. He drove a truck, with other battle-experienced infantrymen, touring around NJ and DE. For the entry fee of a bond, they demonstrated (usually in football fields), various battle techniques on a pill box, which was shot at (with blanks) then with flame throwers.
The Historical Society crowd applauded the men for their wonderful speeches and the Vets stayed to answer questions. One question was the rate of pay, which varied, beginning around $21. up to $54.—a month! Clyde Joscelyn joking said that it was, “$50. per day…once a month!” Clyde also exhibited a U.S. Armed Forces Honor Roll of the men who were in WWII from Tyner, where he was living at the time. It was brought up in discussion that Oxford’s missing honor roll is still sought after.
The next OHS meeting will be on August 11th, at 7:30 PM. As part of their 2005 Summer Concert Series, the Oxford Community Band, under the direction of Francis Wilcox, will be performing guests. They will play a variety of musical selections from marches to overtures sure to please. And for those who enjoyed the WWII memories, the December meeting of the OHS will be a tribute to the 1940’s. Watch for the announcement in this publication, or watch the Oxford events calendar at www.OxfordNY.com . Visit their web page at http://www.oxfordny.com/community/groups/historical.html or call: (607) 843-9446 for more info. New members are always welcome! You can visit the Museum Depot, on any Thursday (between 1-3 PM), and fill out an application.
Paino was trained as a radio man in the 17th Cavalry, and was sent to Europe on the Queen Mary, 16 men to a room; double the capacity. He served in France, Holland, and Luxembourg. Finally in 1944, they drove into Hamm, Germany, where there was heavy fire. That’s when Paino was shot, injuring his lung, liver and diaphragm. The first medic, in haste to leave, left him for dead. Luckily a second medic arrived and helped. Tony was shipped to England to receive medical care, and then safely home.
Tansey wanted to join the Navy along with many of his Oxford class mates. In February, 1943, months before high school graduation, Tom’s parents signed an age waiver, and he was sworn in. He went to boot camp in Sampson, NY, where he did a lot of marching. (He thought that only the Army did that.) After about 2 months of training, he went to Newport, RI, and became a gunner’s mate. He said that he saw lots of U-boats in the Atlantic up North; he was hoping to see some action too. Tansey went to PA, then LA, but his final destination was on a patrol ship in Florida. They scouted the waters from Key West to the Panama Canal. The crew of about 20 men became close pals. They had ammunition on board, 20 mm’s, depth charges, 4 ‘K’ guns, and more, but they never had to use it. Eventually they went to Newport, and then into dry dock. The war had come to an end. The crew had performed a valuable service, but never saw each other again. Reflecting now, Tom is thankful that he did not see action, but he wished he could see his buddies again.
Clyde Joscelyn received what he called the “Greetings” letter-- he was drafted. He went from England to France where he was the assistant driver and bow gunner in an army tank. He did see action, and it was gruesome, but Clyde never lost his wonderful sense of humor. He recalled a time when the tank gunner was turning the turret to check it, only to find men with white flags surrendering! Later, his tank was hit. He saw a red flash, and then felt blood sloshing in his shoes. His feet were hit from an explosion under the tank. Leaving the tank, Joscelyn had to run ¼ mile on his injured feet, to the nearest French village for medics. Three days later he was flown on a C-47 transport plane to England for medical care. His next trip was to the States on the USS Wakefield. At Fort Dix they removed “the steel” (shrapnel), leaving behind one piece in his toe. He was given a two-week “R&R” pass and got to see Times Square, NYC; it was VE-Day!!! Clyde saw the ticker tape, piano rolls, and everything flying in the air in the biggest celebration ever! The war was over!
Later, Clyde was part of an Army Ground Forces’ show called “Here’s Your Infantry”. He drove a truck, with other battle-experienced infantrymen, touring around NJ and DE. For the entry fee of a bond, they demonstrated (usually in football fields), various battle techniques on a pill box, which was shot at (with blanks) then with flame throwers.
The Historical Society crowd applauded the men for their wonderful speeches and the Vets stayed to answer questions. One question was the rate of pay, which varied, beginning around $21. up to $54.—a month! Clyde Joscelyn joking said that it was, “$50. per day…once a month!” Clyde also exhibited a U.S. Armed Forces Honor Roll of the men who were in WWII from Tyner, where he was living at the time. It was brought up in discussion that Oxford’s missing honor roll is still sought after.
The next OHS meeting will be on August 11th, at 7:30 PM. As part of their 2005 Summer Concert Series, the Oxford Community Band, under the direction of Francis Wilcox, will be performing guests. They will play a variety of musical selections from marches to overtures sure to please. And for those who enjoyed the WWII memories, the December meeting of the OHS will be a tribute to the 1940’s. Watch for the announcement in this publication, or watch the Oxford events calendar at www.OxfordNY.com . Visit their web page at http://www.oxfordny.com/community/groups/historical.html or call: (607) 843-9446 for more info. New members are always welcome! You can visit the Museum Depot, on any Thursday (between 1-3 PM), and fill out an application.